2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW
TODAY
Cabarrus County Schools
Cabarrus County Schools
Cabarrus County Schools 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
A Message from the Superintendent...... 1 Mission, Vision, Belief Statements...... 2 District Demographics...... 3 Priority Area I...... 4 Priority Area II...... 7 Priority Area III...... 9 Priority Area IV...... 11 CONTENTS Priority Area V...... 14 School Locations...... 16 Board of Education ...... 17 YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW
LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT
Three years ago, Cabarrus County Schools set out on a journey – a journey to produce globally competitive, lifelong learners. We shared our vision, mission and values with you and developed a strategic plan that would serve as a roadmap on our journey. Each year, we have provided an update on our progress, our successes and our accomplishments, as well as our challenges. And each year, we reaffirmed our commitment to our mission – to value, teach and empower each child in a culture of educational excellence. We have seen our students soar to new achievement levels and navigated our way through difficult financial seasons. We have opened new schools, started new programs and initiatives – all designed to prepare our students for life beyond our school doors – no matter the path they choose – college, career or a call to serve. You have been with us through each and every step of this journey…supporting us…working with us… challenging us. We are pleased to present our 2010-2011 Annual Report and are thrilled to share our successes and highlights from the year. Of course, we temper that celebration with information about the areas where additional effort on our part is required and offer you our commitment to continue making necessary adjustments. Traveling this path toward excellence has been and continues to be an amazing journey. We are grateful for your support and look forward to continuing our pursuit – together.
Sincerely,
Barry Shepherd, Ed.D. Superintendent Barry
1 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Vision: • To produce globally-competitive, lifelong learners through rigorous and relevant curriculum taught by highly prepared visionary leaders who recognize the importance of engaging a diverse body of learners. • To provide 21st Century resources through responsible and efficient use of funding. • To ensure success for all students in safe, inviting and healthy learning communities by building upon a foundation of stakeholder support and caring/respectful relationships.
Mission Statement: We will value, teach and empower each student in a culture of educational excellence.
Belief Statements: We believe in…. • educating the whole child. • personalized educational approaches for each child. • caring and respectful relationships. • safe, motivating, and inviting learning environments. • integrity and honesty. • parent and community partnerships. • fiscal responsibility and efficient operations. • data-driven decisions. • achieving success and educational excellence.
Royal Oaks Hosts Science Fair
NASCAR Driver Reed Sorensen reads to CCS kindergartners at W.R. Odell 2 PreK/Headstart 540 Elementary (K-5) 13,637 Middle (6-8) 6,544 High (9-12) 8,170
Student Population
0 3750 YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW 7500 11250 15000
PreK/Headstart
Elementary (K-5) Demographics: PreK/Headstart 540 ElementaryMiddle (K-5) (6-8) 13,637 Cabarrus County Schools is among the largest school systems in North Carolina.Middle During (6-8) the 2010-2011 school year,6,544 our system educated more than 28,000 High (9-12) 8,170 students and employed more than 3,000 people. High (9-12) In the past 13 years, we have opened 16 new schools. For the 2010-2011 school year, our system consisted of 19 elementary schools; 7 traditional middle schools, 7 traditional high schools; 2 preschools; 1 non-traditional middle school and 3 non-traditional high schools. In August 2010, we opened Patriots Elementary School, Hickory Ridge Middle School, a replacement school for A.T. Allen Elementary School , and the Mary Frances Wall Center, a preschool that serves exceptional children, as well as provides a preschool learning environment for regularly developing children.
Student Population Student Population
PreK/Headstart...... 791 0 3750 7500 11250 15000 Elementary (K-5)...... 13,637 Middle (6-8)...... 6,544 PreK/Headstart High (9-12)...... 8,170 African American 17.9 AmericanElementary Indian (K-5) 0.4 Number of Schools...... 39 Asian American 2.3 Caucasian 63.8 Classroom Teachers...... 1,855 Middle (6-8) Other Employees...... 1,918 Hawaiian Pacific 0.1 Hispanic 12.2 High (9-12) Total Employees...... 3,803 Multi-Racial 3.4
Ethnicity
African American ...... 17.9% 0 17.5 35.0 52.5 American Indian...... 0.4% 70.0 Asian American...... 2.3% Caucasian...... 63.8% African American Hawaiian Pacific...... 0.1% American Indian Hispanic...... 12.2% Multi-Racial...... 3.4% Asian American Caucasian Special Area Populations Hawaiian Pacific Students receiving free and reduced meals...... 40.62% Hispanic Students who are English language learners...... 13.60% Students receiving special education services...... 13.72% Multi-Racial
3 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT 1 Students in Cabarrus County Schools were at the top of their game during the 2010-2011 school year. Our students received honors, awards and accolades at the local, state, and national levels. As a system, we celebrated our graduation rate, which increased nearly 10 points over the previous year to 84 percent. Our rate is 6.3 percent higher than the state average. We also were proud to see one of our high schools – Cox Mill High School – recognized by State Superintendent June Atkinson, Lt. Governor Walter Dalton and State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison for having one of the highest graduation rates in the state in the 200-299 student cohort category. Our high school students continued to outperform students across the state and the nation on the SAT. CCS students averaged a score of 1019 on the mathematics (522) and critical reading (497) segments of the exam. The average score in the state is 1001; the average score nationwide is 1011. Our student participation rate for the exam also has increased 10 percent in the past two years – increasing from 55.3 percent in 2009 to 65.3 percent in 2011. PRIORITY Students Globally Competitive
ABCs of Public Education Designations Three Honor Schools of Excellence: Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early Fourteen Schools of Progress: A.T. Allen Elementary School, College High School, Cox Mill High School and for the third consecutive Beverly Hills Elementary School, Carl A. Furr Elementary School, year Hickory Ridge High School C.C. Griffin Middle School, Concord High School, Concord Middle School, J.N. Fries Middle School, Long School, Mount In order for a school to receive the Honor School of Excellence Pleasant Elementary School, Performance Learning Center, R. designation, it must have had more than 90 percent of its students Brown McAllister Elementary School, Royal Oaks Elementary achieve a Level III proficiency rating on the end-of-course or end-of- School, Winecoff Elementary School and W.M. Irvin Elementary grade tests; and it must have made Expected Growth and have met School Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Schools of Progress are schools that made at least Expected Thirteen Schools of Distinction: Bethel Elementary School, Growth and had at least 60 percent of their students score Central Cabarrus High School, Charles E. Boger at or above Achievement Level III on end-of-grade or end-of Elementary School, Cox Mill Elementary course tests. School, Harrisburg Elementary School, Harris Road Middle School, Based on ABC provisions, five schools received No Recognition Hickory Ridge Middle School, designations. Under the provisions, these schools did not meet Jay M. Robinson High School, Expected Growth; however, between 60 and 89 percent of their Mount Pleasant High School, students scored at or above Achievement Level III on end- Mount Pleasant Middle of-grade or end-of-courses tests. The five CCS schools in this School, Northwest Cabarrus category are: Cabarrus County Opportunity School, Patriots High School, Northwest Elementary School, Pitts School Road Elementary School, Rocky Cabarrus Middle School and River Elementary School and Weddington Hills Elementary W.R. Odell Elementary School School. Schools of Distinction are schools Two Priority Schools: Coltrane-Webb Elementary School and that made at least Expected Growth Wolf Meadow Elementary School and had at least 80 percent of their Priority Schools are schools that had less than 60 percent students score at or above Achievement of their students score at or above Achievement Level III, Level III on end-of-grade or end-of-course regardless of making Expected Growth standards. tests.
4 YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW
NCHS Student • Advanced Placement enrollment increased 19 percent from 1,322 exams given in 2010 to 1,577 exams given Wins Gold in 2011. Medal • Advanced Placement pass rate has increased 4.3 Northwest Cabarrus High School percent from 50.7 percent in 2010 to 55 percent in student Corey Seager was a 2011. member of the USA Baseball team • Middle School reading and math proficiency were that won gold at the Pan American U-16 Youth Championships in the highest in district history at 75.7 percent and Mexico in October 2010. 85.4 percent respectively. Corey, who was a starter on the team, • Thirteen out of 19 elementary schools had math completed the tournament with 18 hits, proficiency rates above 80 percent, with two one homerun and a .514 batting average. ccomplishments schools having a proficiency rate above 90 percent. He also was recognized as the best A shortstop in the tournament and was • Thirty schools met Expected Growth standards for named to the all-tournament team. the 2010-2011 school year. • Fifteen schools met High Growth standards for the 2010-2011 school year.
expressing various kinds of relationships. Working to solve the Challenge analogies helps students learn to think both analytically and metaphorically. Though most vocabulary-boosting and analogy- solving activities have been created for high school students, the WordMasters materials have been specifically designed for younger students in grades 3-8. They are particularly well-suited for able and interested children, who rise to the challenge of learning new words and enjoy the local puzzles posed by analogies.
CCS Crowns Spelling Bee Champion HES Students Giselle Pagunuran was the winner of the annual CCS Spelling Compete Nationally Bee. Giselle was a sixth-grader at Harris Road Middle School. Runner- The Harrisburg Elementary School 5th grade WordMasters Challenge up was Edward Ofei, a fifth-grader at Harrisburg Elementary School. Team placed 1st in the national competition. The team ranked first among 705 other 5th grade school teams. WordMasters is a national language arts competition that consists of three separate meets held at intervals during the school year. The WordMasters Challenge is an exercise in critical thinking that first encourages students to become familiar with a set of interesting new words (considerably more difficult than grade level), and then challenges them to use those words to complete analogies
5 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Hickory Ridge High School Celebrates Honor Hickory Ridge High School hosted an academic pep rally to celebrate the school’s designation as an Honor School of Excellence -- the highest recognition given to schools using the state’s ABCs system. Hickory Ridge High School students performed at a 91.9 percent proficiency rate. The 2009-2010 school year was the second consecutive year that the school received this designation from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. HRHS repeated its pattern of MPHS Student Wins excellence and received this top distinction for the 2010-2011 school Big Sweep year. To receive the designation, a school must have had more than 90 percent of its students achieve a Level III proficiency rating on the Design Contest end-of-course or end-of-grade tests; and it must have made Expected Katie Harris, a Mount Pleasant High School student, was selected as Growth and have met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). the 2010 North Carolina Big Sweep Artist of the Year. Harris’ creative concept was used on the 2011 N.C. Big Sweep t-shirt and poster designs. J.N. Fries Student Big Sweep, an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is a litter-free environment, was founded in 1987 as Beach Sweep, a Wins Art Award coastal cleanup with 1,000 volunteers. That cleanup expanded inland Hailey Smith, a student at J.N. Fries Middle in 1989, and Beach Sweep was renamed N.C. Big Sweep, the nation’s School, was selected by the Professional first statewide waterways cleanup. More than 300,000 Big Sweep Educators of North Carolina (PENC) as a volunteers have retrieved more than 10 million pounds of debris from Young Artist Award winner. Her artwork North Carolina’s environment since it was founded in 1987. That’s the was displayed at PENC’s office in Raliegh and equivalent of almost 25,000 football fields five feet deep of trash! appeared in various PENC publications. Hailey was one of six students To learn more about Big Sweep, go to www.NCBigSweep.org. from across the state to receive an award. She was recognized for her honor at the PENC Executive Board meeting.
J.N. Fries March Madness Career Fair
Sir Purr with Carl A. Furr CCS Sutdents Elementary Student First In Math
6 YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW
2 Cabarrus County Schools continues to be dedicated to recruiting and retaining 21st century professionals who reflect the overall diversity of our community and student body. As a district, we create well-structured professional development plans that are aligned with our strategic plan for all employees. One hundred percent of classroom teachers were evaluated on the new Teacher Evaluation Instrument, for which they received standards training the year before. In addition to a new instrument, administrators and teachers learned to use a new on-line system for administration of the evaluation. By using the on-line system, a variety of information is now available for data analysis for the improvement of performance and to inform professional development. In addition, Human Resources led full implementation of Professional Development Communities within all schools, Staffing At-a-Glance with a focus on teachers identifying essential standards, Teacher Positions Filled on creating common assessments for comparison across the First Student Day...... 99.70% classes, analyzing the test data, and then creating structured Teacher Retention...... 90.69% Licensed Support Retention...... 91.44% interventions to remediate and/or enhance student Bus Driver Retention...... 87.70% PRIORITY 21st Century Professionals performance.
Janelle Patterson Named Teacher of the Year Janelle Patterson, a kindergarten teacher at Royal Oaks Elementary School, was named the SunTrust Gold Star Award Winner and Teacher of the Year for Cabarrus County Schools. Patterson was selected among four other finalists who were chosen from a field of 37 outstanding teachers from Cabarrus County Schools. Patterson received a $1,000 award check and a commemorative Gold Star Award plaque from SunTrust Bank. She also received a new laptop from Cabarrus County Schools. The remaining four finalists, who each received $250 from SunTrust Bank, included: Darrell Calhoun, Jay M. Robinson High School; Shannon Lawrence, Charles E. Boger Elementary School; Cheryl McDaniel, Weddington Hills Elementary School; and Melissa Sykes, Central Cabarrus High School. The competition began with nominations from each school within the each nominee, and selected the five finalists who were then observed district. A selection committee reviewed all portfolios, interviewed in the classroom. Patterson advanced to the regional competition and had the opportunity to compete for the North Carolina Teacher of the Year Award sponsored by AT&T. SunTrust Bank created the Gold Star program in 1987 to recognize the impact that excellent teachers have on the community. SunTrust also sponsors Teacher of the Year programs in the following school systems: Kannapolis, Henderson County and Jackson County.
7 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Todd Smith Named Principal of the Year Todd Smith, principal of Cox Mill High School, was selected as the Wachovia Principal of the Year for Cabarrus County Schools in a program sponosored by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company. Smith has served as principal of Cox Mill High School since 2008 during planning and construction phases prior to the school’s opening in 2009. Prior to his selection as principal of Cox Mill High School, Smith served as principal of Jay M. Robinson High School. He joined Cabarrus County Schools in 1999 as an assistant principal at Central Cabarrus High School and later served as assistant principal of instruction and special needs administrator at the school. Smith began his career as a social studies teacher at West Charlotte High School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University This is the 28th year Wachovia has sponsored the financial awards. and a master’s degree in school administration from the University of LEA principals of the year receive a cash award. The regional Wachovia North Carolina at Charlotte. He also is a graduate of UNCC’s Principal Principals of the Year receive a cash award for their school and a cash Fellows Program. award for personal use. Cabarrus County Schools 2010 Principal of the Year was Edith Sayewich, principal of Mount Pleasant High School.
CCS Welcomes Chinese Guest Teacher When the 2010-2011 school year began, students at Cox Mill High School and Harris Road Middle School were enrolled in classes that taught them how to speak Chinese. The two CCS schools were part of a network of 16 schools in 12 school districts in North Carolina that welcomed guest language teachers from China through the Center for International Understanding. Dan Liu, the guest teacher for Cox Mill and Harris Road, was among the 16 educators to arrive in North Carolina in August 2010. The guest teachers have assignments for up-to-three-years in North Carolina. At the time, Dr. Jim Williams, principal of Harris Road Middle School, said, “Harris Road Middle School is very fortunate to be able to participate in this unique opportunity. An individual who is fluent in both the English and Chinese languages will be able to communicate with more than half of the world’s population. Therefore, offering Mandarin Chinese as a course option will allow our students to be competitive in an increasingly global society.” Todd Smith, principal at Cox Mill High School, echoed his excitement. “Cox Mill High School is very excited about the wonderful opportunities this program brings to our students, staff, and community. This program also supports our school’s vision of ‘utilizing 21st century strategies and technologies in order to graduate students who will be globally competitive in post-secondary education and/or the workplace.’ ” The University of North Carolina’s Center for International Understanding (Center) coordinates this statewide effort known as Confucius Classrooms. In addition to teaching Chinese, each North Carolina Confucius Classroom is partnered with a Chinese school to promote multi-national learning experiences. Students will work together on joint projects using technology and some will meet face-to-face through student exchanges. At the
8 YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW
same time our students are learning Mandarin, students in China are The agreement to bring Confucius Classrooms to North Carolina is studying English and learning about American culture. between the Center and Hanban, an organization associated with Superintendents, principals and teachers from the participating North the Chinese Ministry of Education to promote Chinese language and Carolina schools have traveled to China to learn about China’s history, culture learning overseas. The effort is coordinated nationally by the culture and education system. They have visited their partner schools College Board, a not-for-profit membership association whose mission in Jiangsu province in eastern China. The N.C. Board of Education has is to connect students to college success and opportunity. had an educational agreement with Jiangsu province since 2008 The Center for International Understanding is part of the University supporting the value of this international school partnership work. of North Carolina system. Based in Raleigh, its mission is to promote Confucius Classrooms and supporting partnership activities give North global competence and awareness among North Carolina’s current and Carolina students the opportunity to work across cultures and across future leaders. time zone. Both are necessary job skills for success in the 21st century work environment. Nearly one-third of the world’s people, 31 percent, speak Chinese.
CCS Teachers Published Harris Road Middle School Teacher Joe Hudson is a published author. His novel, titled, Holla’ If You Hear Me is about two unlikely best friends and sixth-graders, William (Will) and Dontrayvius (D) who, along with their lab partners, Aquilla and Tanisha, uncover a terrorist plot to kill the U.S. President and try to stop it. Hudson dedicated the book to Dodie White, his English and journalism teacher when he was a student at Concord High School. Hudson said she made him write and accepted nothing less than perfection. Additionally, four teachers from Concord Middle School wrote an article that was published in the October 2010 issue of Middle Ground, the national magazine for the National Middle School Assoication. The teachers collaborated to write Steering Students Clear of Gangs. They are Tess Kluttz, 7th grade math teacher; Amy Brewer, 8th grade science teacher; Scott Clifford, 8th grade social studies teacher; and Daniela Turano, 6th grade social studies teacher.
9 YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW 3 Cabarrus County Schools focuses on the whole student – teaching, empowering and inspiring each student to become healthy, responsible and globally competitive. During the 2010-2011 school year, our students continued to rise to that challenge and make us proud. CCS character education programs are rooted in core ethical values such as perseverance, self-discipline, positive 2009 2010 2011 5,366 attitudes, empathy98% and respect.98% Through98% these programs, we are helping our students understand how service learning Elementary Studentsopportunities can have a positive impact on them and the world around them. 5,014 94% 95% 97% Secondary Students CCS Student Survey CCS Scholarship Summary I am repsonsible for my behavior at school.
92% 2009 2010 2011 93.5% 95% 96.5% 98% Total Scholarships 486 645 882
PRIORITY 5,064 Students Healthy and Responsible Students Healthy 2009 5,422 Students 94% 98% Graduating Seniors 1,533 1,591 1,864 2010 4,915 Students 5,804 Students 95% 98% Seniors Receiving 17% 20.6% 22% 2011 5,366 Students 5,014 Students Scholarships 98% 97% (Unduplicated)
Elementary Students Secondary Students
Respect and empathy are important character traits that our students took to a new level during the school year. Through Rachel’s Challenge, CCS students and staff at Central Cabarrus High School, as well as parents and our community accepted the call to create a chain reaction of kindness in our schools and in our community. Rachel’s Challenge is America’s largest character development program. Through it, millions of lives have been transformed around the world. It is the true story of a remarkable young girl who believed her life would impact the world.
Beverly Hills Fuels Up to Play Beverly Hills Elementary School hosted a Fuel Up to Play 60 Kick-off event. Students were enthusiastically encouraged by Principal Marcie Beard, School Counselor Carolee Barber and other members of the Beverly Hills Wellness Team, who entered the school’s cafetorium on scooters, to “fuel up” with healthy foods and get active! The National Dairy Council and the National Football League provided a video which explained the details and benefits of this exciting national program. All were asked to visit the website, FUEL UP TO PLAY 60.com and were sent home with a special wellness folder explaining the program and providing fun activities and logging sheets to promote good health. The Wellness Team and staff members took the opportunity during the kick-off event to highlight Beverly Hills’ existing wellness programs. Running Club Advisor and Member Lacey Palmer boasted about the success of the running club. PTO President Christina Blackman presented information about the school’s JAWS (Jogging and Walking Stars) program, which utilizes the school’s walking trail, and recognized the tracking and growing mileage of our students and staff. Last year, Beverly Hills students and staff logged 16,000 miles.
10 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Students Participate in Training Camp Students at C.C. Griffin Middle School participated in a Carolina Panthers Junior Training Camp at the school. The free skills clinic was designed as an outdoor classroom to encourage physical fitness and to reinforce life skills such as discipline, teamwork and respect. Approximately 200 students from each grade level participated in the training camp sessions. The event was a unique opportunity to provide the students with a “training camp” experience and to allow them to put character education traits in action.
MPHS Hosts Volleyball Tournament The Mount Pleasant Volleyball Program and the school’s AWSUM Club hosted its 3rd Annual “King of the Court” Volleyball Breast Cancer Benefit Tournament. Senior volleyball player and AWSUM (Athletes Who Share Unselfish Moments) Club President Elizabeth Widenhouse organized the event, which was held in the high school gymnasium. The tournament pitted junior males against senior males - all of whom paid an entry fee toward the cause. The community came out in a great show of support for this event and helped to donate $1,100 over the course of the evening.
Child Nutrition Hosts Fruit and Vegetable Show Child Nutrition hosted a fruit and vegetable show at Patriots Elementary School. Two shows were held in the cafeteria. The presenters were Ronnie Yokeley, Owner of R&H produce, which supplies CCS cafeterias with fresh fruit and vegetables weekly and Jason Wolf, vice president of Food Services for Hope Haven in Charlotte. Jason is also a chef that has signed on to partner with CCS Child Nutrition in the Chef Move to School program that is part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Campaign. Students enjoyed learning about various fruit and vegetables, where they come from and how many they should eat each day to stay strong and healthy. YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW
Students at Furr Elementary Honor Teacher’s Memory Students at Carl A. Furr Elementary joined with Hospice in a Christmas Ornament project, to honor Furr’s late fifth grade teacher, Joni McGraw, who passed away from cancer last year. Art Teacher Lori Earnhardt organized the activity, teaching students how to make the angel and dove clay ornaments. The ornaments were donated to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County. The school has donated more than 800 ornaments, which were sold for about $5 each at the Hospice’s Light Up A Life angel trees.
HES Students Help Build Wells in Ethiopia Inspired by two classmates who are originally from Ethiopia, students at Harrisburg Elementary School (HES) raised funds in support of Water is Life International, an international program that raises funds to build wells in Ethiopia.
Tia and Garret Henderson are HES students originally from Zadechu Island on Lake Zway in Ethiopia. The pair moved to the United States after being adopted by the Henderson Family. Tia and Garret’s six siblings along with their birth mother, still live on the island, which has little food and dirty, unsafe drinking water. The contrast between their island and the bounty of food and fresh water available in the United States has inspired Garret to want the same for his family and others who remain in Ethiopia. Friends of the Henderson Family were touched by Garret’s compassion and began Garret’s Heart, an effort to raise money to build wells through the Water is Life International program. Their goal is that the people on Zadechu Island will one day have clean, fresh water. HES Students studied how people in the United States lived long ago versus how WE live today. They challenged themselves to donate their weekly ice cream money (or any other extra money they had) and donate it to the school’s Garret’s Heart effort. HES students raised more than $1,800 in support of Garret’s Hear and Water is Life International during the 2010-2011 school year.
12 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Boger Hosts Winter Challenge Congratulations to the Boger Beacons. Students and staff competed and completed the school’s Winter Challenge, a fundraiser sponsored by the PTO. Students and staff lined the Beacon Trail to cheer on their favorite teachers in tricycle races to celebrate the successful annual fundraiser, which encourages kids to collect pledges and requires them to take a 100-point challenge test in each of three curriculum areas; spelling, math and a grade-level choice section. In combination with Crazy Alien Hair Day and Boger Beacon pencil pouches stuffed with smencils, the school-spirited tricycle race was a great incentive and way to celebrate surpassing the school’s fundraising goal, which was $11,000.
WHES Student Serves Up Winning Recipe Congratulations to Macy Miller, a Weddington Hills Elementary School student, whose recipe was entered into the Recipes for Healthy Kids Competition, which is sponsored in conjunction with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Macy’s winning recipe - Can Can Taco Soup - was served at her school as a lunch menu item. The CCS Nutrition Advisory Council selected Macy’s recipe because of its pleasing pallet acceptability, ease of cooking technique, and cafeteria production feasibility. The recipe competition challenges school nutrition professionals, chefs, students, parents and interested community members to create tasty, healthy, exciting new recipes for inclusion on school lunch menus across the country. Winning teams will win up to $3,000 in prizes and be invited to prepare their nutrition-packed recipes alongside White House Chefs. Judging for the competition ends in May. As part of the Let’s Move! initiative, CCS Child Nutrition is participating in the Chefs Move to Schools program and has teamed up with local professional community members in order to bring this exciting program to Cabarrus County Schools. Local Chef Jason Wolf is one of our Chefs Move to Schools partners. The Chefs Move to School program already has provided child nutrition the opportunity to offer a fruit and vegetable show to Patriots Elementary School with produce provided by R&H Produce and students receiving information from Chef Wolf about the benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and where and how produce is grown.
13 2009 86% 2010 87% 2011 88% GOAL 100%
100%
92.5%
85%
77.5%
YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW 70% 4 Communicate. Promote. Celebrate. We continue to focus 2009 our efforts 86%on communicating and connecting with our 2010 parents and87% our community. Our strategic partnerships, 2009 78% 2011 88% 2010 81% GOAL positive relationships100% and effective communications 2011 81% were evident throughout the 2010-2011 school year. GOAL 100%
Cabarrus County Schools Cabarrus County Schools is an effective communicator builds positive relationships with (Source: Annual Parent Survey) parents and the community (Source: Annual Parent Survey) 100% 100% 100% 92.5% 100% PRIORITY Innovative Leadership 78% 81% 81% 75% 86% 87% 88% 85% 50% 77.5% 25% 2009 70% 2010 2009 0% 2011 2010 GOAL 2011 GOAL
Cabarrus County Schools will increase by 30% its partnerships with businesses, community institutions, and
institutions2009 of higher education.78% (Source:2010 List compiled by CCS Public81% Relations Department) 2011 81% GOAL 100% 2010 Benchmark + 15% 2009 Benchmark Year 2011 Goal Benchmark + 30% (20 partnerships) (22 partnerships) 17 strategic partnerships 27 strategic partnerships 47 strategic partnerships
2011 Strategic Partnerships Absorbent Industries City of Concord Parks and Recreation Toyota of Concord The Academic Learning Center Communities in Schools100% UNC-Charlotte American Red Cross Joe Gibbs Racing Unilever The ARC of Cabarrus County Dollar General 75% Union Power BB&T F&M Bank United Way of Central Carolinas Boys and Girls Club Girl Scouts 50% Whole Foods Market Boy Scouts Hewlett-Packard, Rachel’s Challenge Windstream and Wingate University CC & Company Hilbish Ford 25% Cabarrus Arts Council Jimmie Johnson Foundation Cabarrus Bank & Trust Jimmy Murphy Foundation0% Cabarrus County Parks Department Junior League Clothing Closet Cabarrus Family Medicine Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Cabarrus Health Alliance Kohl’s Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce Lowe’s Charitable & Education Foundatio Cannon Foundation NFL/Carolina Panthers Cannon Memorial YMCA North Carolina Research Campus Carolinas Medical Center – Northeast OfficeMax Charlotte Motor Speedway Owens Corning Children of God Orphanage Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
14 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Winecoff Elementary Hosts Throughout the evening, students and their parents walked the Family Math Night grocery store aisles with their Here’s a math problem for you… activity sheets, finding items and What do you get when you add Winecoff Elementary School and the calculating costs. The Math Night local Food Lion store? Answer: A mathematically magical fun-filled concept was developed by Food night for the entire family! Lion’s Corporate Office as a way to stimulate learning in elementary years using everyday interactions, That certainly was the case for the 281 students and parents who such as going with adults to the grocery store. The activity sheets attended the school’s Family Math Night. provided were specific to each grade level and correlated to the North The Family Math Night is a community partnership between Food Lion Carolina Standard Course of Study. stores and their neighborhood elementary schools. Food Lion Store The evening was a huge success with teachers pitching in to volunteer. Manager Melissa Hughes thought it would be a brilliant idea to have The store also held drawings for special prizes for both parents and students in grades Pre-K through 5th use the grocery store as a living teachers. math lab.
CCS Students Win Jewelry Design Contest Two CCS students can officially call themselves jewelry designers thanks to a contest sponsored by Ellis Jewelers. Gracie Brown, a 4th grader at Carl A. Furr Elementary School, and Michelle Mills, a 10th grader at Concord High School, were selected as winners of Ellis Jewelers’ first-ever jewelry-design contest for students. NCHS Donates Uniforms To Ellis Jewelers owner Dan Levinson presented Haitian Team both girls with their unique jewelry designs Northwest Cabarrus High School donated a set of uniforms to a at the jewelry store, which is located at 29 Union Street South in women’s basketball team in Haiti and outfitted the team’s coaches downtown Concord. with coaching attire. The school worked with Debbie Crisp and Concord Gracie’s original design is a gold owl with emerald eyes. Michelle’s Christian Church to reach out to this team. Principal Lynn Rhymer said, original design is a gold, emerald and diamond ring. “Northwest Cabarrus High School is proud to reach across national Nearly 40 CCS students entered the jewelry contest. borders and spread positive influences for Northwest Cabarrus and Cabarrus County Schools.”
Rocky River Hosts Popsicles with Parents Before the school year ended, Rocky River Elementary School hosted a Popsicles with Parents event to nurture home-school relations. The event was held on May 27th - National Grape Popsicle Day! Parents joined their children during the grade-level recess time. Parents and students had a chance to visit with each other during the school day, as well as spend time with teachers and other parents.
15 YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW
Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month As an involved community partner, Hilbish Ford reached out to Cabarrus County Schools to sponsor a monthly recognition award for an outstanding teacher. Hilbish Ford donates $250 each month during the school year to a deserving teacher in Cabarrus County Schools. Hilbish Ford Teachers of the Month are recognized at the Cabarrus County Board of Education’s monthly business meetings. Cabarrus County Schools invited parents and/or students to nominate an outstanding teacher for the Hilbish Ford Teacher Recognition Award. Nominations must be submitted using the online submission form or via fax at 704-786-6141 or mail. About the new partnership, CCS Superintendent Barry Shepherd, said, “We are thrilled to begin this new partnership with Hilbish Ford and thank them for recognizing the wonderful work that our teachers do.” During the 2010-2011 school year, CCS recognized three teachers for their outstanding contributions: April 2011 — Michelle King, Harrisburg Elementary School Michelle King, Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month – April 2011 May 2011 — Karen Robinson, Mount Pleasant High School and Tim Vaughn, general manager, Hilbish Ford .June 2011 — Rachel Day, Charles E. Boger Elementary School
OfficeMax Makes Day Better for CCS Teacher Meredith Hartsell, a second grade teacher at Rocky River Elementary School, was recognized by OfficeMax for her exceptional contributions as an educator through its A Day Made Better teacher appreciation program. Along with support from Adopt-a-Classroom, OfficeMax strives to make at least one day better for teachers by providing them with essential classroom supplies. Hartsell was one of 1,000 teachers selected across the nation. The OfficeMax team arrived at the school to surprise Hartsell and her class with this special honor. As a recipient of the award, Hartsell received a large box of office supplies, a new leather office chair, a plaque and flowers. at Rocky River Elementary. She works diligently to make her Rocky River Principal Millard Lamm, who nominated classroom an exciting and wonderful place for her students. Hartsell for the honor, said, “Mrs. Hartsell is truly Her rapport with her students, her peers and the parents helps dedicated to her students and the overall student body to make our school a wonderful place for everyone,”
16 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT 5 Data-driven performance management continues to be a driving force for our work. Cabarrus County Schools has implemented a systematic approach to continuous improvement using a Plan-Do-Check-Act approach. This model was integrated into our School Improvement Plans and piloted with seven schools in 2010-2011. In 2011-2012, all schools will use a Plan-Do-Check-Act model in the School Improvement Planning process. The same model was used to implement strategies at the district level using a Department Improvement Plan model in the 2010-2011 school year and will continue to be utilized in the 2011-2012 school year. This process expects schools and departments to analyze vital data and information to determine areas that need improvement and then to put measures in place to track the performance of a given initiative. With this powerful strategy in place, Cabarrus County Schools will positively impact our most important asset - the PRIORITY 21st Century Systems students.
Budget Committee That reduction – combined with funds allocated from the Federal Education Jobs Bill, appropriations from the system’s fund balance Cabarrus County Schools formed a Budget Committee to guide the and a local funding increase reflected a $13.2 million total budget process for establishing a budget for the 2011-2012 school year. At its reduction – or a 10% reduction in state funding. outset, the committee faced a significant challenge – early predictions were that the budget picture was incredibly bleak. The proposed budget minimized the impact on the classroom - no class size increases were planned for the 2011-2012 school year and some The committee, comprised of Board of Education members, school jobs were protected. However, the reality of having to prepare for such system administrators, a teacher, a teacher assistant and a community a significant reduction in funding did not allow for the protection of all member, began its work evaluating each expense incurred by the school jobs. The system reduced work hours and months of employment for system. The committee enlisted the assistance of 20 subcomittees and certain positions, while other positions were eliminated. 37 advisory committees. The budget process also provided the school system with an opportunity After months of work that included surveying CCS employees and the to examine all areas to ensure that it is operating efficiently. Results public, the committee presented a proposed budget to the Cabarrus from an operational efficiency study showed that Cabarrus County County Board of Education. In April, the Board unanimously adopted Schools operates efficiently compared to other school systems of the proposed budget, which reduced spending by $6.1 million for the similar size in the state. Nevertheless, the system spent the spring and 2011-2012 school year. summer months looking for ways to leverage even more efficiencies.
GRANTS Efforts to Secure Additional Resources Increase by 40%
2010 2011 Goal 2009 Baseline + 20% = Baseline + 40% = Baseline $231,600 $270,200 $193,000 $325,025 $1,199,486
17 YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW
Nineteen grants awarded to 20 schools in the 2010-2011 school year, including: • Department of Public Instruction & Oak Foundation Secondary RtI • Cabarrus County Parks Department Grant (Harrisburg Implementation Grant (Harold Winkler Middle & Jay M. Robinson Elementary School) $8,271 High School) $900,000 • National Writing Project Grant (J.N. Fries Middle School) $8,000 • Cannon Foundation Grant (Coltrane-Webb Elementary & J.N. Fries • Owens Corning (Northwest Cabarrus High School) $5,645 Middle Schools) $200,000 • Windstream Classroom Connections Grant (Jay M. Robinson • Unilever/Dollar General Literacy Grant (10 elementary High School) $5,000 schools) $22,000 • Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant (Coltrane-Webb • Whole Foods Market Let’s Move Initiative (Child Nutrition – Beverly Elementary School) $5,000 Hills, R. Brown McAllister, Wolf Meadow Elementary Schools & Central Cabarrus High School) $12,500 • Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant (C.C. Griffin Middle School) $4,170 • Confucius Classrooms Grant (Cox Mill High School) $10,000 • State Library of North Carolina Grant (W.M. Irvin Elementary School) $10,000
Facilities Management New Name, New Funding, New Projects The Facilities & Operations and the Construction departments were reorganized in April 2011 to form the new Facilities Management Department. Staff of both departments were combined and a limited number of positions were eliminated. The coordination and execution of the Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB) program was a key initiative for the new department. Following sale of the bonds by Cabarrus County, a total of $11,102,857 was made available to the school district for thirty-nine (39) individual projects. These funds will be used to address significant renovation needs at a variety of schools with the bulk of the money being committed to fifteen (15) existing schools within the district. The work varies from architectural and security improvement projects to replacement of heating and cooling systems, informational technology system upgrades, kitchen hood replacements, a roof replacement, creation of athletic practice fields, and renovations at two schools for new magnet school programs – one for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) magnet and the other for an International Studies magnet. Design and planning work for a majority of the projects was initiated in 2011 with bidding and construction planned during the 2011-2012 and the 2012-2013 school years.
New School Dedications
A.T. Allen Elementary Hickory Ridge Middle Mary Frances Wall Center Patriots Elementary
18 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Energy Management and focuses on training students, teachers and hopefully parents at being Efficient Operations better stewards of our resources. Through the education of individuals to change their behavior and turn off lights, computers and other Although new schools in Cabarrus County are built with energy conservation in mind, they represent only a small portion of the electronic devices when leaving a room, reducing the amount of personal number of schools that are operated by the district. For the most part, appliances within the school, reducing the number of hours that the the majority of the schools within our district are older and were not heating and air-conditioning is used in our schools and ultimately being built to today’s higher energy standards. more alert to opportunities and actions to reduce energy use, people’s In an effort to reduce operational costs the Facilities Management behavior will change and energy use will go down. That is exactly what Department, on request of the Board of Education, hired an energy has happened over the course of the first year of this program. We look manager and implemented and energy management plan that forward to those efforts continuing into next year as well.
Annual Savings by Utility Type (2009/10) - (2010/11) Utility Cost Units saved Electricity $192,049.10 2,911,192 KWH Natural Gas $36,848.63 28,948 Therms Water/Sewer $23,175.96 2,305,172 Gallons Propane $5,392.60 902 Gallons Water ($4,026.02) (258,550) Gallons Fuel Oil ($65,820.78) (8,801.7) Gallons Total Cost Reduction on 2010/11 $187,619.49 Duke Energy Incentives $24,988.70 Total Savings $212,608.19
Data in () indicates increase in 2010/11 cost and usage over 2009/10 Data does not include four new schools, KCS or bus garage CCS has received $24,988.70 in incentives from Duke Energy
Interactive Boards in Every Classroom With A Little Help From Our Friends In the fall of 2009, Mt. Pleasant Elementary School was exploring ways to get more interactive boards into its classrooms. Emily Francis, a teacher assistant at the school, had a contact with a gentleman by the name of Ron Harper. Francis contacted Harper to see if he would be interested in donating an interactive board to her first grade classroom. Harper offered to purchase a complete 21st Century classroom setup, which included an interactive board, ceiling-mounted projector, sound amplifier, DVD/VHS digital tuner, and document camera. The school’s PTO and the community rallied to the cause. By raising The Harpers bought two more interactive boards for the school, as money through a Boosterthon Fun Run and other PTO fundraisers, MPES well as document cameras for all first grade classes. At a thank you was able to purchase eight interactive boards. Under the guidance of reception for the Harpers, Harper made the comment that he liked Technology Facilitator Rob Schladensky, the 16 interactive boards were helping organizations through matching grants. all installed during the summer of 2010 and in classrooms at the start of the 2010-2011 school year. MPES needed 16 more interactive boards in order to have an interactive board in every classroom. When the school asked if he would donate MPES and Cabarrus County Schools are fortunate to have support from eight more boards and the school match the other eight, he generously staff, students, parents, school community and generous individuals agreed. such as the Harpers.
19 2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
School 601 Locations KANNAPOLIS 49 CONCORD 73 85 MT. PLEASANT 73
29 HARRISBURG 49 CABARRUS 601 COUNTY 485 NORTH CAROLINA MIDLAND
Elementary Schools
A. T. Allen Elementary Coltrane-Webb Elementary Mount Pleasant Elementary Royal Oaks Elementary Weddington Hills Elementary 3939 Abilene Road 61 Spring St NW 8555 North Drive 608 Dakota Street 4401 Weddington Road Concord, NC 28025 Concord, NC 28025 Mount Pleasant, NC 28124 Kannapolis, NC 28083 Concord, NC 28025 (704) 788-2182 (704) 782-5912 (704) 436-6534 (704) 932-4111 (704) 795-9385 Bethel Elementary Cox Mill Elementary Patriots Elementary W. M. Irvin Elementary Winecoff Elementary 2425 Midland Road 1450 Cox Mill Road 1510 Holden Avenue 1400 Gold Rush Drive 375 Winecoff School Road Midland, NC 28107 Concord, NC 28027 Concord, North Carolina 28025 Concord, NC 28025 Concord, NC 28027 (704) 888-5811 (704) 795-6519 Phone (704) 455-1882 (704) 782-8864 (704) 782-4322 Beverly Hills Elementary Harrisburg Elementary Pitts School Rd. Elementary W.R. Odell Elementary School Wolf Meadow Elementary 87 Palaside Drive NE 3900 Stallings Road 720 Pitts School Road SW 1215 Moss Farm Road 150 Wolf Meadow Drive SW Concord, NC 28025 Harrisburg, NC 28075 Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28027 (704) 782-0115 (704) 455-5118 (704) 788-3430 (704) 782-0601 (704) 786-9173 Carl A. Furr Elementary Long School R. Brown McAllister Elementary 2725 Clover Road 310 Kerr St NW 541 Sunnyside Drive SE Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28025 Concord, NC 28025 (704) 788-4300 (704) 784-3614 (704) 788-3165 Charles E. Boger Elementary Mary Frances Wall Center Rocky River Elementary 5150 Dove Field Lane 3801 Highway 601 South 5454 Rocky River Road Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28025 Concord, NC 28025 (704) 788-1600 (704) 782-5712 (704) 795-4505
Middle Schools
C. C. Griffin Middle Concord Middle Harris Road Middle J. N. Fries Middle Northwest Cabarrus Middle 7650 Griffin’s Gate Drive 1500 Gold Rush Drive 1251 Patriot Blvd 133 Stonecrest Circle SW 5140 Northwest Cabarrus Drive Concord, NC 28025 Concord, NC 28025 Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28027 (704) 455-4700 (704) 786-4121 (704) 782-2002 (704) 788-4140 (704) 788-4135
Cabarrus Opportunity Middle Harold Winkler Middle Hickory Ridge Middle Mount Pleasant Middle 120 Marsh Avenue NW 4111 Weddington Road NW 7336 Raging Ridge Road 8325 Hwy. 49 N Concord, NC 28025 Concord, NC 28027 Harrisburg, NC 28075 Mount Pleasant, NC 28124 (704) 793-1736 (704) 786-2000 (704) 455-1331 (704) 436-9302
High Schools
Cabarrus - Kannapolis Central Cabarrus High Cox Mill High Jay M. Robinson High Northwest Cabarrus High Early College High 505 Highway 49 South 1355 Cox Mill Rd 300 Pitts School Road SW 5130 Northwest Cabarrus Drive 1531 Trinity Church Road Concord, NC 28025 Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28027 (704) 786-0125 Phone: 704-788-6700 (704) 788-4500 (704) 788-4111 (704) 260-0229 Concord High Hickory Ridge High Mount Pleasant High Performance Learning Center Cabarrus Opportunity High 481 Burrage Road NE 7321 Raging Ridge Road 700 Walker Road 1885 Odell School Road 120 Marsh Avenue NW Concord, NC 28025 Harrisburg, NC 28075 Mount Pleasant, NC 28124 Concord, NC 28027 Concord, NC 28025 (704) 786-4161 (704) 454-7300 (704) 436-9321 (704) 795-7074 (704) 793-1736
20 YESTERDAY • TODAY • TOMORROW
Cabarrus County Board of Education
Dr. Barry Shepherd, Superintendent [email protected] (704) 262-6123
Holly Blackwelder, Board Chair [email protected] (704) 788-9254
Tim Furr, Board Vice Chair [email protected] Left to Right: (704) 888-0443 Barry Shepherd, Blake Kiger, Cindy Fertenbaugh, Holly Blackwelder, Tim Furr, Carolyn Carpenter, Grace Mynatt, Lynn Shue Carolyn Carpenter [email protected] (704) 786-8656
Cindy Fertenbaugh [email protected] (704) 788-1476
Blake Kiger [email protected] (704) 454-5622
Grace Mynatt [email protected] (704) 788-1252
Lynn Shue [email protected] (704) 786-0480
Non-Discrimination Notice Cabarrus County Schools provides equal access and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs or activities. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: 504 Coordinator - Dr. Marion Bish 704-262-6259 | Title IX Coordinator - Dr. Colleen Sain 704-262-6117
Disclaimer The school system retains control over what links will be placed on system-related websites; however, the linked sites themselves are not under the control of the school system, its agents or its employees. The school system is not responsible for the contents of any linked site, any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. The school system provides links as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement of the site by the school system. The school system reserves the right to remove or restrict any links.
21 Cabarrus County Schools
4401 Old Airport Road Concord, C 28025 (704) 786-6191 www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us
Cabarrus County Schools
Cabarrus County Schools